The Makeup Tea: May 2015

Mini Ulta Haul!

5/25/2015 12:00:00 PM

Ulta is one of my favorite places to shop for all things beauty and skin care related. They have the convenience of the drugstore by offering many of the great drugstore beauty brands you know and love while also carrying higher end beauty products. I recently dropped in to pick up a few items that I needed to repurchase and some items that I have been wanting to try.

L-R: Olay Clean & Mild Make-Up Remove Cloths; Olay Oil Minimizing Toner with Witch Hazel

The Olay Oil Minimizing Toner is one of my favorite toners. I have been using it for the last year and a half and I love the way it makes my skin feel clean, fresh, and instantly brighter. Witch hazel is great for removing excess oil from the skin as well as treating acne. Since my skin is prone to both, I try to use products that will help combat both of those issues and this toner has been excellent. Since I was over in the Olay section I picked up these makeup remover cloths, mainly because they were on sale at the time. I needed makeup remover cloths and I am not someone who has a go-to or favorite brand, I usually try out new ones every time I by them. So far these have been working pretty well.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser; Miracle Worker; Renewed Hope in a Jar Eye

The main reason for this particular trip to Ulta was because I had been dying to try this Philosophy Purity facial cleaners. I have researched the product and learned that it was great for melting away dirt, oil, and makeup and was made with really great ingredients that were gentle for the skin but hydrates and tones at the same time. The one thing I love the most about this product is that because it's so gentle it's great at removing your eye makeup and won't burn or sting your eyes. This product can be pretty pricey, I purchased the 8oz bottle which retails for $24 but I also chose the one that came with a free product.

The Miracle Worker moisturizer is specifically for anti-aging purpose which, I technically really do not need at this point. I don't have any wrinkles or any signs of aging on my face, however I think it's important to start taking these types of simple, preventative measures before we start developing those signs of aging. I honestly really like this moisturizer. I use it at night after washing my face and the consistency is pretty thick compared to most of my other moisturizers but I really like that because I feel that it has a chance to really moisturize my skin during the night.

Because I purchased a Philosophy product I also received a free sample of the Renewed Hope In A Jar Eye cream. I have been using it but again, I don't necessairly need it. One thing I do like about eye creams is applying one before your do your makeup because I feel like my under eye concealer lasts longer and doesn't crease as much.

L-R: Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara; Essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara

I have been really into mascaras lately, especially ones for my lower lashes because I really need help defining them. I spotted this in Ulta and I have really been loving it and surprisingly I love the side for the upper lashes more than I like the end for the lower lashes. Both are great and work really well. I may repurchase this mascara in the future because I have been really enjoying it.

I also picked up a new eyebrow gel simply because I needed to throw away my Elf one. This one by Essence is really great at taming your eyebrows and keeping them in place so I have no complaints. Plus it was very affordable, I think it was around $2 or $3.

Essence Sun Club all-in-one Bronzing Highligher--02 Sun Glow

So this is a product that I had absolutely no prior knowledge of and wasn't planning on buying. While I was over in the Essence section at Ulta this just grabbed my attention. I love highlighters, they're one of my favorite makeup products to purchase. This is considered a "bronzing" highlighter but in no way is it a bronzer, it is 100% a highlighter and it is GORGEOUS! I swatched it for the blog however the picture just did not even do it justice. This one is great for girls with a tan to darker complexion, however they also make one with more pink tones in it that is great for girls who may be lighter in complexion. Go into your local Ulta and swatch these because I promise you will not be disappointed. And the best part is that it was only around $3!

anastasia

My Everyday Makeup

5/20/2015 12:45:00 PM

The products I use for my everyday makeup look is pretty simple and straightforward. I honestly don't wear makeup everyday and more days than not I go without. But on the days that I do wear makeup, I don't always feel like doing something elaborate, especially if it's during the week in which case I'm trying to hurry so I can make it out the door in time for work.

As simple as this look is to achieve, I always get the most compliments on this look whether it's from friends, co-workers, or complete strangers. I think what makes this look so appealing is the fact that it really is very simple and natural looking, so it plays up what I consider to be my best features such as my eyes, lips and cheekbones. The products pictured below are the products that I am most likely to reach for when doing this look, but I do interchange products and switch things up depending on the day. These are just the products that I tend to grab first.

L-R: Rimmel Stay Matte Primer, Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser, Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream--Deep, NYX HD Concealer--Nutmeg & Beige. Not pictured BH Cosmetics Studio Pro Matte Finish Pressed Powder.

When it comes to face products I keep it very basic and simple. When I'm applying makeup for my everyday look, I need products that are going help keep me matte in my T-Zone because it can get pretty oily. I switch between primers but I usually use the Rimmel Stay Matte Primer or my Maybelline Baby Skin. The Rimmel primer is great for keeping oils at bay and leaving your face matte throughout the day while the Baby Skin will help fill in pores, making them look much smaller and giving the skin a more flawless airbrushed effect.

I LOVE the Maybelline Dream Pure BB cream. It gives a medium coverage but this formula is specifically for keeping you matte. If you're not someone that like a matte look they do have a BB cream that will give you a more radiant or dewy finish. If I'm not using this I like to use my Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation which has the same mattifying effect but with more coverage.

My favorite concealers right now are the NYX HD Concealers. I use the darker shade to conceal any circles and the lighter shade to highlight and brighten underneath the eyes. I have heard many beauty bloggers and YouTubers say that this concealer is close to the Nars Creamy Radiant concealers but I have yet to try those.

Elf High Definition Powder--Corrective Yellow

Once I apply my concealer I like to immediately set it with this Elf setting powder. There are a TON of setting powders, especially in a banana or yellow shade like this, on the market so you can easily find one that works for you. I like this one because it's finely milled so it applies very well and does a great job of setting my concealer so that it doesn't crease. This powder also comes in a translucent white powder but I prefer the yellow because it's more natural looking for my skin tone but still gives a nice brightening effect underneath the eye.

Brows: Anastasia of Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade--Ebony & Essence Lash & Brow Gel Mascara, Covergirl Clump Crusher by Lashblast Mascara

When it comes to my eyebrows and eyelashes, I keep it pretty simple. I love using my Anastasia of Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade to fill in my brows. I guess for an eyebrow product it is kind of pricey but there are plenty of affordable alternatives. Elf and NYX make great eyebrow products and you can find them at most drugstores. Some people prefer to use a brow pencil for a more natural effect but I've found that if you go in with a very light hand you can achieve a nice natural looking brow using the pomade. I also like to use a clear eyebrow gel to help keep my eyebrow hairs in place and I recently picked up this Essence one from Ulta.

My favorite mascara at the moment is the Covergirl Clump Crusher. It really lengthens and separates the eyelashes which I really like.

Milani Powder Blush--Romantic Rose

Blush is one of my favorite makeup products and I have way more than I probably need. Maybe one day I'll do a post on my blush collection. Anyway, this blush is one of my favorites at the moment. It's a beautiful, natural, mauve color and it is the perfect color for an everyday look. I usually stick with a mauvy color like this or a coral, peach color. And can we just talk about the packaging on this blush? Ugh! All of Milani's packaging is gorgeous!

BH Cosmetics Forever Nude Sculpt & Glow Palette--Medium Deep

Next to blush, highlighters are probably my next favorite beauty product. The highlighter in this BH Cosmetics Sculpt & Glow palette (2nd rectangle at the top) is EVERYTHING! I tried to swatch it to show you guys but honestly the picture just wasn't doing it justice. It's a beautiful rose gold color that I feel looks really great with my complexion. Sometimes if I'm feeling extra I'll use the NYX Liquid Illuminator in Gleam first and then set it with this highlighter for an extra glow. This entire palette is really nice, but the highlight is my jam. I need BH Cosmetics to sell the highlighter separately because I would definitely buy it.

L-R: Covergirl Lipstick--Sultry, ColourPop Lippie Stix--Lumiere, NYX Intense Butter Gloss--Chocolate Crepe, Jordana Easy Liner Retractable Pencil--Rock N' Rose

When it comes to lips, I have so many lip colors that I love. My friends pick on me all the time because I love a good nude lip. If it were up to me, I would always wear nude lips, but every once in a while I like to switch it up with a little pop of color. However, for my everyday look I usually stick to colors that are more on the nude, brown, or mauve side. Colors in this shade range have been huge this year thanks to Kylie Jenner, everyone wanted a nudey, brown or mauve lip. Some of my favorites are the ones pictured above. These are great options for a nude lip for my brown girls with a deeper skin tone.

Urban Decay De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray

Last but not least, once I'm finished applying all of my makeup, the final step is to set everything in place so that my makeup lasts all day. The Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray is hands down my absolute favorite setting spray. This one is specifically for oil control, and because I have combination skin, I tend to get oily in my T-Zone and this setting spray really does an amazing job of keeping my makeup from melting off my face. I have gone about 10 hours wearing makeup and I get home and everything is still in place. If you have combination to oily skin I highly recommend this setting spray.

affordable

Target Haul!

5/18/2015 12:00:00 PM

I had a bit of a scare yesterday with my little blog here but luckily the issue has been resolved and I'm happy to bring you guys some fresh content today! If you know me then you know I LOVE Target. And by love I mean, going to Target is my idea of things to do when I'm bored. Target is one of my favorite places to shop because it encompasses everything that I love all in one place: makeup, skin care, accessories, clothes, and home decor. I literally went to target for one item and ended up with all of these things which is pretty much the story of my life!

I purchased this cookbook, The Vegan Bible, for a co-worker's birthday!

So the main reason for this particular Target trip was to find the pink candle pictured above, Sweet Spun Sugar. Now again, if you know me, you know I LOVE candles. Especially if they're from Bath & Body Works. Having worked there for nearly 3 years, you really get spoiled by Bath & Body Works' candles. They last forever, and the scents engulf your home in literally no time. One thing about Bath & Body Works' candles is that they can be pretty pricey. The 3 wick candles retail for $22.50 although you can usually find them on sale and apply coupons as well.

So when I heard people talking about how amazing this candle smelled from Target, it peaked my interest. I'm not a complete candle snob, I am open to trying candles from other places :). When I smelled this candle I was pleasantly surprised. It is so fresh and sweet, but not overwhelmingly sweet. I loved it! And it was only $10. I also picked up the blue one, Coastal Linen, which also has a very fresh and clean scent. I just started burning Sweet Spun Sugar in my bedroom and it smells soooo good! I was worried about how well the scent would burn but so far the scent payoff has been great. I will definitely be repurchasing these two in the future.

So unless you've been hiding under a rock or Target just isn't the kind of store you want to spend your time going to (which I mean, girl, everyone is entitled to shop wherever they want but..I mean it's Target lol) you would have noticed The $1 Spot at the front of the store, usually right when you walk in. This is a section of the store that I just started really going to and I'm so glad I did. There are so many great things here and the majority of the items range in price from $1-$5. I actually think there are a few items that are over $5 but I don't see them often.

The first thing that I picked up were these cute gift bags. Since I was already picking up a gift for a co-worker's birthday, I figured it only made sense to pick up a gift bag to place it in. I picked up two because they were only $1 and super adorable! Plus I figured I could use the other another time.

The 2nd thing I picked up were these oil diffusers. I've never seen these in the $1 Spot section before so they obiously peaked my interest. Going back to my love for Bath & Body Works, I really prefer using the Wallflower plug ins. But I ran out of my refills so I decided to try something new. The oil diffusers I purchased were Melon Freesia and Blue Lagoon, and I think I saw a lavender one as well but lavender isn't really my favorite scent in the world so I skipped on that one. These were only $3 and honestly, I'm not sure if I will purchase them again. They're not nearly as strong as I was hoping they would be so, eh.

My next find at the $1 spot was this super cute coffee mug. I bought this specifically to use at work. We have a Keurig in the break room and I figured this would be a nice way for me to save money by bringing my own mug and K-Cups to work so I can stop spending so much money at the coffee shop located inside my office building! So far, it seems to be working!

I found some really cute birthday cards that were only a $1 as well. The designs on the outside are so adorable and the cards are blank on the inside so you can decorate and personalize the inside however you wish to.

Last but not least, I picked up another one of these magnetic to do lists. These are great to stick on your refrigerator or somewhere in your office, or perhaps in your locker if you're still in school. I'm big on staying orgainzed so I love having notebooks and notepads to help keep me on track! Maybe in the future I'll do a post on organization..(insert light bulb emoji!)

Those were all of my Target finds this time! If you love shopping at Target just as much as I do, leave a comment below and let me know what's your favorite thing to shop for or let me know if you've found any other amazing items in the $1 spot that I should be on the lookout for!

affordable

Afforable Mac Studio Fix Dupe??

5/13/2015 12:32:00 PM

For the last couple of years my go to, holy grail status, powder foundation was the Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. I swore by this foundation. Especially in my early days of makeup, I never wore liquid foundations or BB creams, so I relied on a powder foundation to give me the coverage I was looking for. The Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation really gives such great coverage without looking cakey and also, for someone like me with combination to oily skin, it really helped keep me nice and matte throughout the day. And for $27 a pop, it should!

So imagine my surprise when a few months ago I see one of my favorite beauty YouTubers, Lizzy from WhatWouldLizzyDo talk about a new powder foundation from BH Cosmetics. I have ordered from BH Cosmetics prior to hearing her talk about this and was really impressed with the quality of their products. BH Cosmetics is an online cosmetics company offering affordable makeup alternatives. Their makeup is excellent quality and they have really amazing brushes as well. So I knew if Lizzy was excited about it and saying it was a more affordable dupe for the Mac powder, I had to try it!

The BH Studio Pro Matte Finish Pressed Powder comes in 7 different shades, which at first may not sound like much of a selection, but I truly believe there is a shade to fit every skin tone. I do wish there were a few more darker shades to fit all of my brown and chocolate skinned babies, but hopefully this is something BH Cosmetics can come out with in the future.

When it comes to shade ranges for myself I bought the shade 250 which is about one shade lighter than I wanted but the shade 255 is perfect for me. For reference, I'm the shade NW45 at Mac, so if you're in that shade range or about a shade lighter than 250 and 255 will work perfectly for you. The BH powder is just as amazing as the Mac Studio Fix, and dare I say I like it better? To me it just seems like it has a bit of a "creamier" or smoother texture than the Mac powder. And the best part, it's only $5.95! That's almost a $22 difference between the Mac powder and the BH powder. If you're looking for an affordable powder foundation that's going to give you excellent coverage and do a great job of absorbing excess oils and keeping you nice and matte, then I highly suggest you try the BH Studio Pro Matte Finish Pressed Powder. It's AH-MAZING! And your wallet will thank you. :)